YMCA Youth Ambassador posts from Bulgaria

I'm in Varna, Bulgaria as the official delegate for YMCA Europe to the European Youth Forum along with Ana Sofia Abreu from YMCA Portugal. We are tasked with representing the position of YMCA as a full member of the YFJ with voting rights. We will engage in the amendment of the YFJ strategy and work plan, vote on new members and a new board for 2017-19. We will also have opportunities to gain more insight around the work of YFJ and other member organisation through workshops on migration, youth rights, youth advocacy and much more.

This was the view from my morning jog after a very long first day at the European Youth Forum (YFJ) General Assembly in Varna, Bulgaria. This is the only glimpse of the outside world I will most likely see so I'll savour it.

Our journey here was slightly tricky but we made the most of it, even allowing Ana to have the quickest tour London at midnight on our way from Heathrow to Luton. I was unsure about the scale of the Forum but once we arrived it became clear the importance and responsibility that we had be trusted with. After settling in the hotel, we were taken to a large venue in Varna where we received a keynote speech from an executive in the UNFPA on our part in delivering the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Very inspirational is an understatement.

Already overwhelmed, we were then lead to a “room” where 2000 people were waiting for us and received an almost Olympics style welcome. We were honorary  guests to the selection of the next Youth Capital, a prestigious award for a city working to empower young people. What then transpired was incredible (see images!). Performance after performance, with each one surpassing the last.

The next day marked the beginning of official  proceedings. Ana and I, being the newbies, were apprehensive to say the least but we have had amazing support from the many other youth organisations like the Scouts and Girl guides and of course Ilenia, Heidi and Tinna from YMCA Europe.We got our head around the online system, voted, listen, fought for our amendments and made some new friends. We watched a debate from all the candidates for the Presidency, Vice presidency and Board members. There is strong political machine at work and I hope we come out of it unscathed. We are make YMCA proud and represent them well and have already managed to get some amendments accepted after some gruelling debates and look forward to more. The day ended at 11pm and a cold Bulgaria beer in true YMCA fashion. We are thoroughly enjoying the experience and grateful for the opportunity to represent YMCAs across Europe to empower young people.

Bring on Day 2!

Beyond Berlin 2011

It's over. A four day intensive course on Europe, half a day or so exploring the city at leisure, and i was on my way home.

As with most subjects, having now gained a fuller understanding of the issues involved, the picture has gotten anything but clearer. We've learned about the EU, The CoE, YFJ, The CDEJ, and a long list of other subjects with untold combinations of letters for names. Unlike a lot of other subjects however, now I know more about EU Youth Politics, I feel I need to actually do more; especially because, we within the YMCA really do have the capability. From allowing our young people to access grate scemes, such as the European Volunteer Service, to implementing participatory models like that of structurd dialogue, it can be done. Crucially, to those completing work like we do in my local YMCA, it can be done, whilst actually strengthening our position.

I'll not ramble on about the details of the seminar any longer, for fear of alienating you from what is a really interesting topic. What i will do however, is urge you to find out a little about who's representing you in your National Youth Forum, or Youth Parliament, or if you're really interested in youth representation, in the European Youth Forum (YFJ). Many of us have meetings, forums, and consultations taking place on a local level. If we collectively dare, sharing a bit of information with these brilliant young people might allow us to contribute on levels we often fail to give any consideration, and help us together achieve some amazing things. Berlin in this sense, has always and will always been about what happens beyond it, about how we choose to contribute, once we know the methods out there.

I thought as a final part of my entry, I'd leave you with just one more photo I snapped. In a city as historical, and as awe inspiring as Berlin Berlin, it's impossible not to come into the contact with the legacy of human action, and inaction; both have led to misery and the destruction of lives at some point in its both beautiful and tortured history. For the members of a fellowship as old, vast, and diverse as the YMCA, exactly whose responsibility it is to act is not always clear when we meet challenges outside of our normal responsibilities. Our continued positive impact however, requires that we all contribute however possible, whenever the opportunity arises. We at the conference committed ourselves to pushing for decision makers to actively consider young people when forming policy that affects them. These are the faces of some of the people from the 13 national movements that took part and made that commitment. I hope upon seeing the faces of strangers joined despite difference for the good of their fellows, you will also commit to helping the people that matter get their voice heard, where it matters.